Magneto.



L. l.' SEVISON.

MAGNETO.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.I0.vI9oa.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

,UNITED STATES PATENT curieus LUTHER J. sEvrsoN, oF ooNsTANTINE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNon To FAWN RIVER MANU- FACTUBING COMPANY, 0F CON STAN TINE. MICHIGAN, .A CORPORATION UF MICH'GAN.

pplication iled August'IO, 1908. Serial No. 447,818. y

To all whom z't may concern.'

v Be it known that I, LUTHER J ..SEv1soN, citizen of the United States, residing at Constantine, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements'in Magnetos, of which the following is a specification.'4

This invention relates to an improvement in high tension ignition systems for gas en-V gines and the like and more particularly to an improvement in magnetos designed for use in connection for such systems, and the primary' object of the invention is the provision of a magneto of the alternating current type designed to effect the ignition of gas or gasolene motors without the use of batteries, vibrators, spark coils or complicated wiring. Y

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this characterof the alternating type;A in which the circuit to the plugs is closed only when the sparks are to be produced, said circuit being at all other times open.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a dev iceof this character of the alternating type in which the. ,current from' ythe armature is continuously delivered to the condenser andthe current from the armatureV and condenser is periodically 'un-'-v loadedl on to the primary of the spark coil just at the pointy of alternation, when the armature is rotating at low speed, so thatit is. possible to obtain a 'high wave spark at low speed.' I

A further object ofthe invention is the provision of a deviceY of this character with which a high wave' spark can be obtained at low speed and which is provided with means for maintaining the voltage constant regardless of the speed'ofthe armature shaft. 4

A` further object ofv the invention is the provision ofimproved timer mechanism for advancing `and 1 retardi-ng the spark land changing the relation of the armature to the 'timing mechanism `which distributes the current to the-motor, 'and for producing an v-initial spark to start the motor.'

Other objects of the invention will -be apparent from lthe detailed description, herein--.. after when read in connection with the ac' /comp'anying drawings forming a part herefof, wherein a preferable' embodiment the c invention is shown and-wherein like .nu-f

l Fig. 2 is an end elevation, witha portion of the frame removed showing the circuit closing means employed for periodically unloading the current from the armature and coidenser on to the primary of the spark co1 l Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the Vopposite endI of the magneto, with a. Aportion of .the frame removed, showing the distributer. arm andthe spark plug contacts,`

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the wiring lbetween the *magneto and the spark coil and plugs,

` Fig. 5 is a sectionall View fand gearing, and l 1 y Figs. 6 and/7 aredetail views. Referring now more particularly to the of 'thel timer locav Specification of Letters Patent. i Patented 14;, Q..

frame in which are mounted `he'zrvy permanent `magnets A of any suitabley form and construction, which are provided withsoft iron. field pieces a between which is adapted to rotate the armature B. The armature B is of the usual shuttle pattern and extending fromthe ends thereof are, shaftsB and B2,

which are journaled in -end plates of any.

suitable construction which form. a part of the'frame of the machine,fand project outf wardly therebeyond. Secured within the shaft-B2 of the armature so as to rotate.

therewith .is a `rodv or conductor which isI formed of copper or otherV good conducting material and which is insulated from the .i

i shaft B2 by a sleeve of insulating material b which extends'substantially the entire length thereof. The. 'conductor fb terminates at its 'outerendin abutton b2 which is of substantiallythe same diameter as'thev end of the shaft B2 vand said button isinsulat'ed .from

-the end ofthe shaft by a flange on the 'end of the insulating sleeve b. The outer face of. the button bzis provided with a' centrally disposed depression thereinfor a purpose tov be hereinafter set forth. The armature'B'is 'provided 'with asinglepwindin'g lof coarse wire, one end ofwhich is grounded tothe 'armature frame and' the other end ofwhichis electrically connected inpanyjsuitable' manner to the innerl end of the rod" orconductor f' condenser is electrically connected to a mei tallic arm D which projects from one end of the frame of the machine and is positioned directly over the projecting end of the shaft B? heretofore described. The arm-D is secured to and insulated from the frame of the machine in any suitable manner and terminates at its outer end in a binding` post d upon which is adaptedl to be threaded the usual clamp nut. Dependinor from the outer end of the arm'D and in electrical connection therewith is a leaf spring, D, the lower end .of which is provided withl a cup-like portion in which is secured a carbon button d2 which is adapted to be held in yieldable engagement with the outer end of the copper rod b' heretofore referredv to. The outer face of the carbon button d2 is Hat so as-to make a ood contact withthe button b2 'onthe end o the rod or conductor Z) and is provided with a slot therein which extends transversely thereacross. By this construction the faces of both the carbon button d2 and copper button b2 wear away equally at all poi-nts so that a perfectly Hat contact is at all times maintained between them. Secured to one end of the frame of the machine and extending outwardly therefrom below and on opposite sides of the extended portion of the armature shaft B2 aretwo metallic arms E E, the inner ends of which are secured to and insulated from the frame of the machine in any suitable manner. The

, arms E E are provided intermediate their ends on the outer sides thereof with contact studs e e and terminate at the outer endsthereof in binding posts e e which are adapted lto-be connected with one terminal of the spark coil, as will be hereinafter more particularly set'forth.l Depending from opposition, to engage the contact studs eV e carried by the arms E E heretofore referred to. Secured to the projecting end of the armature shaft B so as to rotate therewith but insulated therefrom, is an eccentric cam G which lies between the springs F F and said springs are provided' intermediate the ends thereof with blocks f f which are held in yieldable engagementwith the periphery of the cam. The perlphery of the cam is formed with one high portion and one low portion which is connected to the high portion by an abrupt shoulder g, the periphery of the cam being curved gradually from the low portion to the high portion thereof, From this construction it will be noted that during the revolution of the armature shaft the contact f of either of the springs F will.

only be permitted to contact with the contact e on the adjacent arm E when the block f carried by such spring rests on the low portion of the eccentric cam. It will thus be seen that during one revolution of the-cam G, each of the springs F will be once permitted to assume a position whereby the contact f carried thereby will fora short period of time only engage the contact e on the adjacent arm E. When the armature is rotating at slow speed and one of the blocks f of the springsF rides 0H of the high portion of the cam, the contact f carried thereby will contact with the contact e on the adjacent arm E before the cam has traveled any substantial distance and the parts are so constructed and arranged that the contacts E and F will be brought together and close the circuit to the primary coil of the spark coil just when the armature has reached the highest potential or is passing out of the field; thus the high wave spark is used even at low speed. When the armature is rotating at a higher speed, however, it will be obvious that the contacts E and F will not' be brought together until the armature has traveled a greater distance than when rotating at low speed, since the speed of rotation of the cam has been increased and the time required for the spring to move from the high point of the cam to a position permitting the engagement of the contacts e and f is always the same, so that when the device later in the revolution of the armature and' the high wave is not caught and the voltage remains the same as when-the machine is rotating at a low speed. It will thus be seen that the construction ofthe circuit closing devices is such that the voltage of the current generated will always be constant regardless of the speed of rotation of the armature. The cam G is preferably adjustably mounted upon the shaft B4 so that byshifting'the position of the same the voltage. can be varied to any, desired extent. The several parts of the circuit closer are preferably inclosed by a casing G of any suitable construction which is secured to the end frame of the machine in any suitable manner and is provided with apertures therein to permit the binding posts cl and e e to pass therethrough, said binding posts being of course insulated from said casing. The end of the frame of the machine in which the armature shaft B is journaled is provided with an integral journal box to binding posts e e at the ends of the arms are connected by suitable'wiring to one terminal of the primary of a spark coil Q which may be of any well known type, the other terminal of the primary being grounded to the frame of the magneto; the binding posts o are connected by suitable wires to the plugs in the cylinders of the motor; and the binding post 0'3 is connected by a. suitable wire or conductor to the secondary of the spark coil. l -From the above construction, it will be noted that the condenser is in circuit with the windin of the armature during its full travel an when the armature travels through its fields, the armature winding loads. and so does thecondenser. One terminal of the rimar. of the spark coil is connected to t e bin ing posts e c', while the other terminal of the primary is grounded on the base of the machine, and as the condenser and armature are always in connection with the bar D which carries the springs F F, it willbe apparent that when either of the springs is permitted by the cam Gr which is positioned therebetween to move` `a suli'lcient distance to close the circuit through contacts 7, c, the armature and condenser instantly unload direct onto the primary of the spark coil, Where the current is induced inthe secondary of the iet .mechanism Aheretofore described for spark coil and thence conducted to the distribut'er and the plug. rlhe closin of the circuit to the primary 'of the spar coil is controlled by jthe cam G and the springs, F F, which as has been heretofore pointed outl are of such construction that when the device is running at low speed the current will be taken on the high wave and the voltage will remain constant at all speeds.. IIt will be noted that the sparking `circuit is openduringthe greater partlof the travel of the magneto which renders'the magneto much easier to drive than the closed circuit machine heretofore in use.

' The spark may be advanced or 'retarded any desired extent by shifting the timer boX, and it willbe apparent that as the Periodically closing the circuit operates entirely independent of the timer box, the character of the spark produced is the same at all times .whether sparking the motor early or late in the stroke.

As the distributer arm travels, in the. form illustrated in the drawings, at onev half motorspeed, the sparking or timing range, 'on the ly wheel, is equal to twice the length of the segmental contact plate on the plate v`Withthis wide range, a full throw of the timer boX H will revolve the armature one-half turn when the motor is idle, thus the operatorcan startthe motor by merely manipulating the timer box, provided of course the motor is charged reaches with gasZ As owing to the fact that with the partlcular type 0f circuit closer employed, the high wave` spark is delivered when the device operates at low speed, the magneto can be relied on to start the motor at a very slow turn of the crank; in fact the crank may be turned very slowly until the motor is charged with gas, when to. start the same it is only necessary to quickly shift the timer'box.

While the device isparticularly designed fornse in ignition systems which do not employ batteries, it is so constructed that batteries may be used if desired, the battery wiies when used being connected to the binding post d and to thespark coil, as shown in the diagrammatic view illustrated in Fig. 4, and an ordinary two throw switchv being provided for cutting out the magneto and throwing in the battery.-

While a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings, it will be appreciated that the invention is not necessarily limited to the exact construction therein shown, as many changes and alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention,

what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an ignition apparatus, a magneto provided with an armature, a condenser continuouslyin circuit with said armature winding, a' spark coil, a normally opencircuit between the primary of the spark coil and the armature winding and condenser,

and a circuit closer interposed in said circuit. l

2. ln an ignition apparatus, an alternating current magneto, a condenser continuously in circuit with the armature winding or' said magneto, a spark coil, a normally open circuit'between the primary of the spark coil and the armature and condenser, a circuit closer interposed in said circuit, and means actuated by the armature for intermittently closing said circuit.

3. ln an ignition apparatus, an alternating current magneto, a condenser cont-inuously in circuit with the armature winding of said magneto, a spark coil having its primary in a normally open circuit with said condenser and armature winding, and a circuit closer in said .circuit adapted to be intermittently actuated by said armature at low speed to permit the current to unload from the armature andcondenser on to the primary at the highest potential of the armature.

4. In an ignition apparatus, an alternating' current magneto, a condenser continuously in circuit with the armature winding of said magneto, 'a spark coil having itsA primary in a normally open circuit with said mature.

condenser and armature, and a circuit closer in said normally open circuit adapted to be intermittently actuated Iby the armature of the magneto, the time of actuating of said circuit closer being automatically varied acy cording to the speed of rotation of said ar- 5. In an ignition ary of the spa-rlrcoil:

6. In an ignition apparatus, a magneto,`a condenser continuously in circuit with the armature Winding of said magneto, 'a' spark coil having its primary in a ,normally Aopen circuit with said 4condenser and armature, a circuit closer in said normally open circuit adapted to be intermittently actuated by the armature, a plurality of ignition devices,- and means actuated by the armature for successively placing saidignition devices vin circuit with the secondary of the spark coil. .7. In an ignition apparatus, a magneto, a condenser continuously in circuit with the armature winding of said magneto, a spark coil, a normally open circuit between the armature, condenser, and primary of tlie spark coil, acircuit closer in said circuit, adapted to be intermittently actuated by the armature, a plurality of ignition devices, and means adjustable independently. of said first vmentioned circuit closer for successively placing said ignition devices in cir- .cuit with the secondary of tlie spark coil.'

S. In an ignition apparatus, an alternating current magneto, a condenser continuously in circuit with the armature Winding of said magneto,a spark coil having its pri- (sel Y Ythe armaturejW-inding of vsaid magneto, a., .'65

mary in 'a normally open circuit'ivith the' armature and condenser, a movable Contact member in said normally opencircuit, and a cam carried by the armature and engaging said movable contact-member.

9. In an ignition apparatus, a magneto, Y

a condenser continuously inl circuit With the armature winding of said magneto, a' contact point adapted to be connected to the primary of lan induction coil, a spring 'actuated arm in electrical connection with the armature .winding and condenser vand adapted in its normal position to engagel said contact point, and a cam carried by tlie\ armature and normally engaging said spring-actuating' arm tofhold the' vsame away from said-contact point. l

l0. In an ignition apparatus, a magneto, a condenser. continuously in circuit with pair ofcontact pointsadapted for connecparatus, a magneto, a condenser continuous y in circuit with the tion to a sparking circuit, a pair ofspring' actuated circuit 'closing arms 1n electrical connection with the armature Winding and condenser and adapted to coperate with said contact point, anda cam` .carried by tlie armaturesl'iaft and normally engaging said spring actuated arms to hold the same away from said contact points. I

11. In an ignition apparatus, a' magneto `of ythe armature Winding, the yother termivnal' of said Winding being grounded, a `contact carried by 'the frame and adapted t0'- be connected to a sparking circuit, a movable contact member carried by the armV projecting from the frame and adapted to coperate with said contact point, and a cam v,carried by tlie armature shaft and normally engaging said movable contact member to hold the saine away from said Contact point.

l2. In an ignition apparatus, a frame, a.

magneto having its armature journaled in said frame, a rod of-con'ducting material carried by the rarma-tureA shaft' and insulated therefrom, saidrod being connected at its end to the armature Winding and provided at its outer end Witli a contact por-v tion, a condenser mounted in the frame, an

" arm extending from the frame and e'lec,v

adapted to be connected to the primary of' a spark coil, a pair of spring arms secured' to the arm extendingfrom 'the `frame and provided with contact points adapted to A(,:operat'e with said first mentioned con-A tact points, and a cam carriedby the'armaf ture shaft and positioned between .said

@spring arms.

,13. In an ignition apparatus, Ia frame', a

magneto provided With a rotatable armature journal'ed'in said frame, a conduct-ing.

memberI carried by the'armature shaft and electrically connected to the armature winding,` a condenser` mounted `inthe frame, a spring arm electrically' connectedv to one' terminal of said condenser and provided with a carbon brushyieldably engaging the'- conducting member carried by the! arm.i.

ture shaft, said brush lbeing provided with a transverse slit in the -facev thereof. -l 14, 'In an ignition i device, a frame,' la

vmagneto Yprovided with arotat'able arma.-

ture journaled in saidfrau1e`,' a conducting member carried by theparmature andeleciso trically connected to the armature Winding, armature for intermittently closing the cir- 10 a condenser mounted in the frame, anv arm cuit between the arm on the frame and Said eXtendin from the frame and electrically contact point. connecte tov one terminal of said condenser, In testimony whereof l axed my signa- 5 a spring secured to said arm and yieldably ture'in presence of two Witnesses.

engaging the conducting member carried LUTHER J; SEVISON. by the armature shaft, a Contact point Witnesses:

adapted to be connected to the'primary of F. `W. KNOWLEN,

a spark coil, and means actuated by the MARY E. CmMENS. 

